ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KSDK) - It was a sea of green at Lambert St. Louis International Airport Thursday morning as thousands of troops from Fort Leonard Wood passed through the airport to go home for the holidays. They're flying everywhere from Florida to Minnesota.

The USO held their Annual Holiday Block Leave Celebration for the military personnel with free food and entertainment.

We asked the troops what they'll do when they get off the plane.

Austin Griffith, PV2, traveling to Tennessee, said, "Run to my wife. Then go home and have some fun."

Kara Morton, PFC, traveling to Florida, said, "I plan to surprise my grandmother. She just knows that I'm in basic training. She doesn't know I have Christmas exodus off. I'm just going to have my mom call her and tell her to go to the airport and pick up a surprise."